Display device



DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Feb. 11, 1955 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 29, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a new and improved display device and more particularly, a display card or board which is adapted to stand upright for displaying printed, picture or other matter on one or both faces thereof. The invention relates particularly to the construction of the card whereby it may be supplied fiat for purposes of shipment and yet by a simple operation, be given suitable supporting legs of an improved character.

It is an object of this invention to provide a display card or board of the type herein referred to which is adapted to stand in a Vertical position and to have its supporting base so constructed that it is adapted to have its opposite faces both used for display purposes.

A further object of this invention is to provide a construction of display card which may be conveniently made of pasteboard or other similar stiff or rigid but bendable material, wherein a firmer supporting base is provided therefor and whereby the stand is less subject to being knocked or blown over or otherwise accidentally caused to fall from its upright display position.

A further object of this invention is to utilize the natural resilience of the material from which the card is made such as pasteboard, or the like, without creasing along a crease line, or otherwise breaking the strength of the fibers, whereby the natural resilience of the material affords a frictional gripping of the surface on which it is supported to thereby aid in maintaining the upright position of the card.

A further object of my invention is to provide several forms and modifications of the construction herein referred to, some of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of modified form of the invention in its original fiat position;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the same device in standing upright position;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a modification of the invention in its original fiat position;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the same device in standing upright position;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of still another modified form of the invention in fiat, knocked down positon; and

Figure 6 is a perspective View of the card of Figure 5, in standing position.

By referring to the drawing, it will be noted that the display device illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a main sheet 30 of cardboard or other stiff but bendable material, and legs 3] and 32 which may be deflected from the normal plane by a slight bending over a relatively large area without however, breaking the structure of the fiber constituting the card material. Legs or supports 3! and 32 may be secured to the main sheet 39 in a manner shown in the drawing by adhesive or other suitable means, the legs being attached only at their top portions as for instance, from their upper edges down to approximately theline 33 of Figure 1. The adhesive however, is not placed below the line 33, wherefore the bottom edges of the two cards are not secured to the main panel 39. It may be noted that the unsecured portion of the supports extends throughout a substantial area whereby the bottom edges may be deflected by bending to form the supporting legs for holding the card in upright position and without necessitating an acute bend such as might damage or rupture the card material. In order to provide an improved support, it will be noted that the leg portions or su ports 3! and 32 extend slightly below the lower edge 35 of the main card whereby when the supports are bent outwardly for making the device in upright position as shown in Figure 2, the lower edges of the legs 3! and 32 will be on the same horizontal plane as the lower edge of the intermediate leg 36, which in this form, is the bottom edge of the main card 39.

In providing legs 3! and 32, the card is adapted to have the legs deflected from the normal plane by a slight bending over a relatively large area, without however, breaking the structure of the fiber constituting the card material. By having the unglued portion extending upwardly for approximately the distance represented, the deflected portions constituting the legs may be bent to a considerable extent to provide a support while at the same time avoiding creasing or otherwise breaking the fibers. In this way, a large supporting base can be provided which maintains the card with its body portion, in vertical position. It will thus be seen that the card so held is well adapted for advertising or other display purposes and is capable of having printed or picture matter on both faces. Furthermore, the advertising matter can be brought all the way to the bottom edge of the card on both sides and there is no interference thereto such as supporting props of the type now employed on display cards. It is obvious that supporting props and the like, render the surfaces to which they are attached, unsuited for display purposes.

It will be further noted that by the slight bending and the natural resilience of the legs 3| and 32, the legs will be inclined somewhat to resume their original fiat positions whereby the lower edges of the legs will have a frictional gripping action on the surface on which they rest.

The modification shown in Figures 3 and 4 is in the nature of a double display card comprising two cards held together by an intermediate tie piece. This form comprises two main cards 40 and 4|, each having a leg 42 and 43, respectively. These are glued to the main card in the manner as in Figures 3 and 4. The two cards thus formed are held together by an intermediate tie piece 44 which has downwardly extending edges 45 which are secured by adhesive to the inside faces of the two display cards previously described. It will thus be seen that the card may be knocked down as shown in Figure 3 and thereafter, by bending the legs in the manner above described, be set up as shown in Figure 4.

The modification shown in Figures 5 and 6 is also in the nature of a double card insofar as its support is concerned. This form comprises two main body cards and 5! which are secured together by adhesive forming their upper edges down to the line 52. The lower edges are subject to being bent outwardly as shown in Figure 6, and are each provided with an additional leg member 53 and 54, respectively. These legs are provided as shown and are secured by adhesive to the first legs 55 and 56. This card may be set up as shown in Figure 6, by bending the main legs and the auxiliary legs and thus afford a very strong and durable support, while at the same time, presenting both faces for display purposes.

It will be obvious that various other forms of this invention may be made without departing from the spirit thereof and accordingly it is intended to include all forms as coming Within the scope of the appended claims. It is not essential to use glue or adhesive for securing the sheets,

as stitching, clipping with metal clips, or any other similar means of fastening will be satisfactory.

I claim:

1. A display device made of bendable material having a vertically disposed upper portion and a lower portion comprising two outwardly bent supports, said upper and lower portions providing uninterrupted display surfaces extending from the bottom of said supports to the top of said device, additional supporting means secured to said device and mounted between said outwardly bent supports and serving to rest upon and engage a supporting surface and thus aid said outwardly and lower portions providing continuous display surfaces extending from the bottom of said supports to the top of said device, said bent supports being secured at their tops to the lower intermediate portions of said vertically disposed upper portion, said outwardly bent supports being bent gradually over a relatively large area so as to provide the required amount of deflection for adequate support without rupturing the fibers of the material employed and without destroying the continuous effect of said display surfaces, and said vertically disposed upper portion having an extension projecting downwardly between said supports and being adapted to engage with a supporting surface to aid in maintaining said device in upright position.

3. A display device of the character described comprising a pair of vertically disposed spaced main portions of bendable material, each presenting an outer display surface, means secured to said main portions for hingedly spacing and connecting the same, each of said main portions having a pair of outwardly flared supports bent gradually over a relatively large area without breaking the fibers thereof soas to provide supports spaced double for said device to maintain the same in upright position.

4. A display device of the character described comprising a pair of sheets providing opposite display surfaces, said sheets being formed and being secured together throughout the upper region of their adjacent surfaces and having their lower portions unsecured and bent gradually outwardly over a relatively large area so as to form supports for said device without breaking the fibers of said material or impairing the display surfaces thereof, additional supporting means secured to the lower ends of said sheets between the lower spaced ends thereof and being inwardly bent over a relatively large area to form additional supports between said first supports.

HARRIETT I-I. DAVIS. 

